What is the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)?
Checked against official sources, October 2026
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is a temporary visa that lets an approved employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker for a position they cannot fill with a suitably skilled Australian. It has Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement streams, and lets you stay up to 4 years.
Who this is for
Health professionals with, or seeking, an employer sponsor in Australia.
What the official guidance says
- You must be nominated for a skilled position by an approved sponsor, have the right skills to do the job, and meet the relevant English language requirements.
- Core Skills stream: your occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List.
- Specialist Skills stream: your occupation is in ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 and the nominated salary meets the Specialist Skills Income Threshold.
- Labour Agreement stream: your employer must have a labour agreement with the Australian Government.
- You can stay up to 4 years (Hong Kong passport holders up to 5 years).
- Home Affairs prioritises applications under Ministerial Direction 121, with healthcare among the sectors listed for priority processing.
- Skilled visa income thresholds are indexed each year; Home Affairs published new thresholds from 1 July 2026.
What it does not mean
- It is a temporary visa, not permanent residence.
- You cannot apply without an employer nomination.
- Professional registration with Ahpra is a separate process from the visa.
What to do next
- 01Start your registration with the relevant Ahpra board for your profession.
- 02Find an approved sponsor and confirm which stream your role fits.
- 03Check whether you need a skills assessment for your occupation and stream.
- 04Apply once nominated, with English evidence.
Questions
Can a nurse get a 482 visa?
That depends on your occupation’s listing and the stream your employer nominates you under. Check the Core Skills Occupation List and the stream requirements on Home Affairs.
How long does the 482 visa take?
Home Affairs publishes processing priorities and a processing time guide tool for recently decided applications. Times vary by stream and case.
Official sources
- Department of Home Affairs: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
- Department of Home Affairs: Skills assessment
Checked October 2026. Immigration rules, fees and thresholds change, so confirm them on the official page before you act.
Plan the whole route, not just the visa
Migo’s Australia plans cover registration with your Ahpra board, the migration skills assessment and the job search, then link Home Affairs for the visa options. The free AI assistant can explain the streams in plain terms, and you get alerts when guidance on your route changes.
Related guides
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your own case, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or lawyer.